The all new Nissan Townstar has been named Compact High Cube Van of the Year at the 2023 Great British Fleet Awards.

The judges, an expert panel of Fleet World Group editors, praised the vehicle saying: “Townstar picks up where e-NV200 left off and UK customers will have the choice of a petrol-powered model too.

‘‘There’s a choice of two lengths, with competitive payloads for both. There are four trim levels to choose from and entry-level Visia includes items such as air-conditioning plus automatic headlamps and wipers as standard. Townstar is easy to drive, with a range of comfort and safety features that will be welcomed by drivers and fleet managers alike.’’

Successor to Nissan’s hugely successful e-NV200, the Townstar is available with either a petrol or electric powertrain and is primed to future-proof business operations and accelerate the transition towards electrification.

It brings a suite of 20+ technologies to the compact van segment and features a broad range of safety systems and advanced driver assistance features such as Intelligent Emergency Braking, Hands-Free Parking, Intelligent Cruise Control and Around View Monitor (AVM), putting it at the forefront of its category.

When it comes to carrying capabilities, Townstar provides a generous payload of up to 600kg (SWB) or 800kg (LWB). In addition, the maximum braked towing capacity is 1,500kg.

Townstar also demonstrates Nissan’s commitment to providing quality and reassurance, with owners across the manufacturer’s LCV range benefiting from an industry-leading, pan-European five-year or 100,000-mile warranty. This is in addition to the eight-year or 100,000-mile battery warranty for the EV version.

The Townstar EV boasts a cutting-edge electric powertrain that has been optimised with intelligent energy management and battery thermal cooling technology.

This advanced system delivers a class-leading zero-emission range of 183 miles WLTP Combined (or up to 269 miles on the City Cycle), making it one of the most capable and versatile commercial vehicles on the market. The Townstar EV’s 45kWh battery offers both AC charging (11kW or 22kW) or 80kW DC CCS quick-charging, the latter of which enables users to charge the battery from 15% to 80% in as little as 37 minutes.

Marco Capozzoli, head of national dealer fleet at Nissan, said: ‘‘Here at Nissan, we know what a fantastic vehicle Townstar is, and it’s wonderful to receive official confirmation of that at the Great British Fleet Awards. Naturally, we are delighted it has been named Compact High Cube Van of the Year.

‘‘With tougher emissions standards, urban access restrictions, and ever-increasing demand for last-mile delivery, businesses large and small need to find effective and sustainable solutions to remain competitive and optimise their operations. Townstar fits the bill perfectly.’’